Thanks you guys for all of your support. Sorry i took so long. Let me know what you would like to see in the next chapter. :)
Lou Shi had been waiting for his grandson at an old abandoned mill on the far side of town.
"Your seriously surprised that he's running late?" Fu dog asked the rhetorical question.
Lou Shi only sighed in frustration his patience was wearing thin. Two dark figures were approaching from ahead.
"It's about time", said Fu.
"Hey Gramps, sorry we're late."
"Jake, you must learn to be more responsible, you're nearly an adult now and your duty as the American dragon must be taken seriously. " He told the seventeen year old.
"Waah, It wasn't me Trix was takin' five years sprucin. 'Aww Jakey I gotta do my make up'. " He mocked her. "It's not my fault she turned into a girl."
"News flash Jakey, I've always been a girl. " Trixie back to her sassy self rolled her eyes. "Don't blame me, what was that about the Mac Daddy tryin' to get his hair just right. "
"Both of you no excuses!" Lou Shi raised his voice.
Jake stuck out his lizard like tongue, Trixie only smirked at him.
"We need to find out who or what is behind the murders of these young magical creatures."
The group walked in the direction of a dried out creek. It was deep like a pit and was filled with the corpses of magical creatures.
Jake crouched down to examine the bodies further. A unicorn colt was butchered in two.
Trixie loomed over him disgusted by the foul odor and disturbed by the sight before her eyes.
"Well what ever did this was out to steal some hearts" He winked at Trixie wiggling his brows in the process. She let out a giggle. Jake covered his mouth with the collar of his shirt hoping to ease the strong stench.
Jake couldn't believe he actually had to fondle with the remains of dead creatures.
There were flies swarming away from their would be feast right into Jake's face. He continued his search for evidence trying to disguise the gag reflexes waiting to come out. Fu dog couldn't help but linger on the pleasure of someone else's agony especial Jake's, so he let out a series of chuckles.
"Shut up Fu!" Jake countered. Trixie snickered, Jake glared at her annoyed that she hadn't defended him.
Trixie's face softened at the look. But before Jake could take in the way she gazed at him he lost his footing.
CRASH! The earth beneath him had given way sending him into a dark abyss.
"Jake!" Lou Shi called in fear.
"Jakey!" Trixie had hoped for him to return her call.
Fu dog jumped into the pit, near the under ground hole.
"Kid!" he yelled inside.
The three panicked when they received no answer. Lou Shi quickly transformed allowing Fu dog and Trixie passage on his form. He slithered through the large opening only to land in complete darkness.
"Give us some light old man." Fu asked of Lou Shi.
At that an inferno of glowing heat lit up what appeared to be tunnels.
"Over here." Trixie called. She had found a wooden torch, which Lou Shi ignited.
"Jake is not here." Lou Shi cried in concern.
Trixie felt anxiousness in the pit of her stomach. 'Please be ok Jakey.' She thought to herself.
She held her pillar of light toward the ground revealing the shoe prints of Jake's new Nikes. I'ma kill dat boy." She muttered.
"Well at least he's alive" Fu reassured her.
Lou Shi was relieved of the evidence ensuring his grandson's safety. They followed the footprints through the tunnel in the center of the other two.
Jake rubbed his arm that had broken his fall. He cursed under his breath. The long tunnel he followed had led him to some kind of alter. He used his cell phone as a flashlight until he found a staff to with hold his dragons fire.
Unfamiliar markings adorned the sand beneath his feet. There was what appeared to be dried blood swept across the symbols.
"Jacob Luke" Startled, Jake flung himself around ready to strike. His claws and fangs were bared. He grew calm once he laid eyes on his dusky skinned friend.
"I oughta' slap you."
"Ha ha, my bad Trix."
"My bad? You got us worried half to death thinkin' somethin' done happened to you."
"Like wise young one, next time inform someone of your safety." Lou Shi agreed.
Fu dog looked around the cave, light from the fire flickered against the walls.
"Someone's getting ready for Halloween early." He said.
The stone like alter had been adorned with crushed flowers of some kind, some thing gold and shiny shown from underneath.
"This appears to be the workings of dark magic." Explained Lou Shi.
"What ever it is this place gives me the creeps." Said Jake.
Trixie treaded over toward the alter, intrigued by the faint glow. She brushed aside the dead flowers only to reveal a golden amulet, which held some sort of gem.
"Careful Trixie that could be cursed with powerful hexes." Lou Shi explained while retrieving the amulet from teenaged girls hands.
"Maybe this has something to do with all those dead magical creatures." Jake remarked, while snapping photos of the symbols with his I Phone.
"Ya think." Trixie said sarcastically.
"When I arrive back at the shop I will do further research on the matter. You are dismissed." Declared Lou Shi.
Finally free of American dragon duties for the evening, Jake was more than ready to enjoy his free time.
On the way out of the old cavern some of Trixie's wild curls snagged on a protruding twig.
"OWW, OWW JAKE!" Trixie winced in pain, she was on his back in mid air.
"Sorry Trixie." He hovered near the exit of the cave unraveling her coily strands. When she was free he massaged her tender scalp.
"Thanks." She said though watery eyes.
Lou Shi and Fu dog followed them out.
"You goin' home?" Jake had asked after splitting directions with his grandfather.
"Why?" Trixie questioned curiously.
"No reason, just wanted to know if you wanted to come over."
Trixie had grown tired of coming home to a nearly empty house. Both of her parents were highly involved with their careers. Her father was always away at the military base and her mother flying half way around the world. Some times it would be months before she would see the again. Her grandmother was there but it just wasn't the same.
"Ok, I'll come." Smiling softly she leaned into his back tracing the beautiful pattern of scales with her finger. Even though it had been four years sometimes it was difficult to register her best friend as this magnificent beast.
"Trix."
"Hmm?"
"That tickles."
"Oh really now, guess I know how to put you in check when you get on my nerves now." She said boldly.
"Pfft! What ever Trix." He taunted. Jake sped through the dark sky only to give Trixie a rush of fear. She shrieked.
"You play too much Jake." She confirmed when they came to a halt.
"Ha ha ha." He giggled. The two decended down into the nearest alleyway, where Jake retrieved his human form. Trixie was still hooked on to Jakes back.
"Get off." He teased.
"Shut up." Trixie play slapped the back of his neck and jolted away poking out her tongue in the process.
"Hey." Jake was determined to get her back. He caught up with her lifting Trixie in his arms.
"Ahh, hee hee hee." Trixie snorted from Jake's tickle torture hold. "Stop ha ha."
"Yeah that's what I thought, you can't handle the Mac Daddy." Still in his arms she just stared into his eyes. They held each other's gaze for a moment. Jake's eyes broke away in a blush.
Walking the rest of the way the two reminisced on simpler times. Hearing Trixie's laughter again was precious to him, it was as if all her troubles were lifted being in his presence.
When Jake and Trixie arrived at his home Jonathan, Jake's father, ordered pizza. The small family enjoyed a series of activities Jake once took for granted. He felt like a kid again with no care on the world.
Trixie treasured this time more than anything, her friendship with both Jake and Spud hadn't been the same since they both had girlfriends. Her own shot at romance went wrong so many times. With no companion of her own she had felt abandoned by every one. She was a little sadden that it took her being a victim of rape for Jake to spend time with her.
"I'm gonna' beat both of your butts in Twister." Declared Hayley in all her competitiveness.
"Ha in your dreams Hayley, the Mac Daddy got mad skills yo. " Jake gloated.
Susan and Jonathan decided to sit this game out. The group gathered in the living room pushing aside the couch.
"Left hand green, right foot blue." Susan instructed using the spinning dial.
Jake found the easiest position on the large colored dots. He was sure to win, at least he thought so. Trixie crawled under his belly her arm intertwined with his. Jake felt her leg brush against his own. He blushed at the feeling. Hayley found her placement on the mat with such grace her gymnastics training really came in handy.
"Right foot red, left hand red." Trixie looped her body into an arch, resembling a small bridge. Her arms were crossed in a defeating manor one, wrong move and she would tumble. Jake's left arm was caught between hers it was impossible to move.
Hayley made this game look to easy. Jake finally releasing Trixie's hold placed his hand in the next available circle on the right side of the game.
"Left foot yellow, right hand blue." Trixie tried to reach both orbs but found it difficult due to her crab like position. It was only then that she toppled on her back bringing Jake down with her.
"Victory!" Shouted Hayley.
Both teenagers' hearts pumped wild, their bodies so close. Out of pure bashfulness Jake shot straight up.
"Aww man." Jake whinned reaching out his hand to help Trixie up.
The night was nearing its end. It was a Sunday and they would have to return to school and work the next day. Susan thought this would be the perfect opportunity
To give motherly advice to Trixie.
She gently guided her into the kitchen.
"Trichelle," She paused. "Jacob told me about what happened." Trixie was silent, taken back at how to respond.
"I know what you going through is not easy, but you aren't alone. You're our family and there is nothing we wouldn't do for you."
Trixie felt her under arms begin to sweat her throat had become dry. She was completely lost from words. Susan aware of her speechlessness wrapped her arms around the other. Trixie could no longer hide the tears she had been holding back all week.
"We're going to make sure he's put behind bars." Susan assured her. She cradled Trixie like a small child.
In shock at what she had absorbed, Trixie shook her head in disagreeance. Her chest heavily rose and fell. The dim kitchen lamp began to flicker then every thing went black.
"Hey! Who turn out all the lights." Hayley yelled from the upstairs bathroom.
"Jonathan!" Susan yelled. With out explanation that was key for 'Jonathan reset the power.'
Jonathan Long had learned of his family's extraordinary abilities three years ago on a trip to Hong Kong. And with this knowledge he asked of his son's assistance.
"Mind lighting the way my little cougar cub "
"Yeah Dad." The dark living room lit up in an orangey glow.
Moments later the lights were back on. Every one stood accounted for, but Trixie somehow went missing. Susan was shocked that the young woman that once stood before her merely vanished.
"Where is….Trixie?" Susan asked bewildered. She hadn't noticed the girl slip out of her arms.
Jake feeling that strong urge to protect questioned the room with him eyes. The door was but two feet away and no one had heard it open. He felt anxious in each part of his body.
"Trixie!" He elevated his voice hoping for a response. He looked over to his mother.
"Maybe she wasn't ready Jake." She placed her hand on his shoulder.
"I have to find her." Jake shook his head. Susan and Jonathan didn't dare hold their son back.
'Maybe I can pick up her scent if I'm not to late.' Jake thought to himself. He leaped over the couch grabbing his signature leather jacket in the process.
"Don't wait up for me." He demanded of his parents. Jake ran through the door and down the porch steps only to take to the skies moments later. He knew he could cover more ground that way.
Deep within Jake's gut he felt uneasy, something wasn't right. A figure in the darkness jolted from behind the trash cans below. Like a satellite Jake's pointed ears picked up on the sudden movement.
His reptilian body twisted and curved through the atmosphere. He followed the shadowy character to a run down playground. The swings eerily creaked back and forth against the stale air. The mulch reeked of eco matter and the sight was altogether ghastly.
Jake transformed from scales to smooth human flesh. He only wondered if he had been chasing a figment of his imagination. He cursed at the ground for misleading him.
He sniffed the air but there was no trace of Trixie anywhere. Jake felt a vibration from his pocket. 'Don't look for me I'm ok.' Read the text message sent from Trixie's phone. Even though his mind swarmed with many unanswered questions he was somewhat content knowing she was safe.
The gravel crunched and crackled under his feet. It was as if the earth was taunting him. Trixie said she was ok but why couldn't he just accept that.
CRUNCH! Jake lifted his Nike shoe to discover a round aluminum object there was some sort of symbol carved into it. It looked familiar somehow. The puzzled boy observed the small crest in his palm; it glowed faintly from the pale moonlight.
Dovex Fersha Ka Vernenx it read.
A snazzy hip-hop beat buzzed from his back pocket.
"Hello?" He answered unaware of who was on the other line.
"Hey Jake." Greeted Jake's estranged girl friend Rose. He hadn't heard from her in a week.
"Listen I'm sorry about last week, let me make it up to you. " She declared.
"Yeah aight'." Jake was ever so nonchalant.
"Meet me in the lot by the old clock tower after school tomorrow." She insisted.
"Ok, I will."
"So, what are you wearing?" Rose asked in a deep seductive voice.
"I'm kinda in the middle of something right now, I'll see you tomorrow." Jake responded bluntly.
"Oh." Rose answered though a broken ego. "See you tomorrow then." She quickly hung up.
Jake was glad to give her a taste of her own medicine. As many times that he tried to connect whit her, become intimate, or even just talk to her she always had an excuse. He was tired of being her lap dog. There to cater to her every need when she was in the mood, but when ever he needed her she had no time for him.
Both Trixie and Spud had encouraged him to tell Rose how he was feeling, but each time he tried to get his point across some how he was to blame. With no other sign of life in sight Jake decided to call it a night. He would deal with Trixie in the morning.
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